Warner Bros. Sneaking An Online Pass Into Mortal Kombat
Mortal KombatEA and THQ have done it, so why not Warner Bros.?
To combat the sale of used games - from which publishers see no profit - the aforementioned companies have instituted the Online Pass, which encourages a gamer to purchase a title new. Buying it used will force you to purchase an Online Pass for an additional $10, so therefore, you're not really saving much of anything by going the pre-owned route.
And now, another publisher appears to be taking that approach: it's Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, which says Mortal Kombat will ship on April 19 with an "online pass" token that must be redeemed before playing online. And if it's true, you can expect Batman: Arkham City and F.E.A.R. 3 to receive the same treatment. The interesting part is that WBIE apparently has no intention of telling anyone; this information comes courtesy of a Joystiq tipster, who included details in an e-mail:
"Mortal Kombat, available on April 19 for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, includes a one-time-use registration code that gives players access to all online modes in the game. Players who do not have a code will get a free two-day trial of the online play and then be able to purchase the online modes for 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and $9.99 on the PlayStation Network."
It seems WBIE only wanted retailers to know, and weren't about to inform consumers. Maybe they jut assume it's expected in this day and age, but we imagine some buyers might be surprised...
Related Game(s): Mortal Kombat
Tags: mk, mortal kombat, warner bros, online pass
3/29/2011 9:02:34 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (37 posts)
BikerSaint
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 9:34:09 PM
Reply
Honesty matters!
3 up, 0 down
Qubex
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 9:36:31 PM
Reply
The voucher to rule them all...
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
7 up, 1 down
BikerSaint
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 9:42:53 PM
Reply
This one will also join my "bin" list
5 up, 1 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 10:27:32 PM
Reply
Either way, it won't affect me. If I ever did buy a game used, I'd have no issue returning 9.99 to the developer.
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 11:04:26 PM
Reply
4 up, 4 down
ColTater
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 11:08:29 AM
Is the PS3 somehow hooked up to a computer which allows them to tweak the code and put whatever they want on the map. All the hacker stuff is WAAAAAY beyond me.
I know it is bad, but I've just been tip toeing with torrents lately to watch the 2nd season of Spartacus because I don't have STARZ, and even how that is done is past my level.
2 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 11:30:45 PM
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If I don't like the price, I just wait until I find it for a price I do like.
5 up, 1 down
Scarecrow
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 11:36:00 PM
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 1:37:21 AM
1 up, 0 down
kraygen
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 1:40:08 AM
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 9:03:29 AM
1 up, 1 down
Qwarktast1c
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 9:53:34 AM
2 up, 1 down
AcHiLLiA
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 12:33:28 PM
Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 3/30/2011 12:38:09 PM
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 11:32:24 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Cesar_ser_4
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 5:49:53 AM
Last edited by Cesar_ser_4 on 3/30/2011 5:50:23 AM
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 9:03:59 AM
1 up, 0 down
Gabriel013
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 12:45:35 AM
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When people are buying your product elsewhere because it's cheaper the sensible approach is to drop your damn pricing, not to start putting a price tag on individual components to try and strong-arm your customers.
Price elasticity you morons. Price comes down, sales go up. find the right balance and you'll kill the preowned market AND boost your profit margins; without resorting to these annoying tactics.
12 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 2:06:04 AM
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The CEO of developer Saber Interactive says $60 RRP for new titles is holding industry back
It's unfair to blame consumers for trading in their old titles when new games cost as much as $60/£50 – that's according to the CEO of TimeShift developer Saber Interactive.
Read his wehole story here......
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/43696/You-cant-blame-people-for-buying-pre-owned
2 up, 0 down
SSRGohan
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 2:35:56 AM
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0 up, 0 down
A2K78
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 2:57:21 AM
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Ebay and Craigslist is your friend, this when you can get used games way cheaper.
"Price elasticity you morons. Price comes down, sales go up. find the right balance and you'll kill the preowned market AND boost your profit margins; without resorting to these annoying tactics."
You just demonstrated why the used game market will be around for a very long time.
1 up, 4 down
___________
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 4:02:54 AM
DONT buy games off ebay!
why?
well, have a look at the MK collectors edition on ebay.
120 USD, 130,140,150, i even saw one for 180!
and all these require 20+ dollars for shipping too!
now why spend 140 plus USD online if you can go to gamestop and get the same product for 100?
LONG gone are the days where ebay use to be cheap!
another perfect example, the playseats off there official site there 600 AUD for the armature model.
EXACT same one off ebay, just sold yesterday for 800!
LONG gone are the days where ebay use to be cheap!
O, and then theres the whole BS of having to worry if your items actually going to be sent.
lost count how many times i have bought something off ebay and never got it, or sold something off ebay and never got paid!
tis why im done with ebay, just a waste of time and a MASSIVE pain in the A$$!
3 up, 1 down
___________
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 3:58:45 AM
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i cant believe the greed of publishers these days!
that rolls royce is not enough, they need another for the wife, and 10 more for the mistress and friends!
come on, where will the greediness end!?
2 up, 2 down
Lairfan
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 3:51:43 PM
0 up, 1 down
___________
Thursday, March 31, 2011 @ 8:53:18 AM
0 up, 0 down
Ultimadream
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 5:09:06 AM
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DLC has corrupted the gaming industry this generation. If you pay retail price for a game you should have the right to the full package,but now I see on the PS Store costumes, weapons extra levels all which should be included as something you unlock rather than paying, these are games remember.
3 up, 1 down
Cesar_ser_4
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 6:08:28 AM
2 up, 0 down
ColTater
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 11:23:11 AM
Oh, we couldn't fit it on the disc so dlc is so convenient and accessable to people. Huh, isn't blu ray 50GB? Oh, forgot damn Xbox please fix me.
This little sneaky practice and the fact that you have to pay for more characters has now put me off on purchasing this game. I will still rent it (just to see Kratos in action) beat it with my favorite fighters and return to Gamefly.
1 up, 0 down
gumbi
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 8:21:30 AM
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And what if you rent the game for a week from your local video store? no online for you.
1 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 9:55:26 AM
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If you buy mostly used games, yeah, it's a problem.
2 up, 0 down
slugga_status
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 9:56:39 AM
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1 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @ 3:55:48 PM
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But that's not on-topic, now is it? As far as online passes go, I hate them. If I want to rent certain games, I have to make sure now that the online is not a big component of the game, otherwise I won't be able to get an accurate representation of what the game's actually like. At least with MK they're giving you two free trial days before they cut off the online and ask for the code, but I still don't like it.
1 up, 1 down
Ather
Thursday, March 31, 2011 @ 3:33:36 PM
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This is only a problem is you're used game costs less than $10 off the new price. In which case, splurge and buy new anyway. What's another $1-$9?
0 up, 0 down
richfiles
Thursday, March 31, 2011 @ 6:37:36 PM
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I love how developers "claim" they are making NO MONEY on used games...
This is the era of DLC! Come on and stop lying to our faces!
Oh noes, the game we made $60 + DLC from person A just got sold used to person B. We only make money on the DLC Person B buys... We should lockout the game's online features for person B and force them to pay extra, on top of the DLC that we make money with... Uh.. no we don't make money on used game sale... None at all! Yup, that's the truth! Yup! LOOK! Person C has the game now... Charge them money too! CHARGE!!!
Yeah...
"To combat the sale of used games - from which publishers see no profit" = Lie
Certainly... No profit at all in this day and age.
0 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Reply
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @ 9:18:22 PM